Bassists that, if you replaced them, would change the entire sound of the band

What bassists give their bands a signature sound that really can't be replaced by anyone? I can think of 3 off the top of my head; John Entwistle of The Who, Chris Squire of Yes and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. If I wasn't so tired I could think of more.

I personally don't really think of "replacing" a lot of people in terms of sound.
But if I were to, and what all bassists at one point or another have to look at and be like "I have to compete with THAT," is this.

Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Paul McCartney of The Beatles
Les Claypool of Primus... or anything else he's in.
Geddy Lee of Rush
Tony Levin from his work with Peter Gabriel
Paul Denman from his work with Sade
I think Nick Harmer makes each song his own in Death Cab for Cutie.

The Other Ones (remaining members of the Grateful Dead) toured in 2000 with Alphonso Johnson on bass and it was astounding how different that music sounded without Phil. Phil Lesh IS the Grateful Dead sound.

Tom Commerford of RATM
Krist Novoselic of Nirvana
Flea of RHCP
and whoever plays/writes the bass lines for Jamiroquai

Click to expand...

Jamiroquai's had three or four different bass players, though
As for Flea, I think he could be replaced pretty easily to be honest, nothing he does is exactly groundbreaking or unqiue IMO.

I reckon Chris Squire and Geddy Lee would be pretty hard to replace but that's more a stylistic thing. Same for Les Claypool- I don't think anyone could 100% nail all his lines without a tonne of work on them first.